State employees wouldn't have to take an outright salary cut but would get 10 unpaid days off a year under a tentative contract agreement worked out between state and union negotiators.

Neither the state nor the Ohio Civil Services Employees Association would confirm that a deal had been reached or the details of negotiations because of a news blackout agreement. But a source familiar with the agreement said it was so.

The rank-and-file membership of OCSEA, representing 35,000 workers as the largest state employees union, would have to ratify the pact before it would take effect. The State Controlling Board, a bipartisan legislative panel that reviews major spending proposals, would act on the deal on behalf of the state.

The OCSEA contract typically sets the pattern for negotiations with other unions, including Service Employees International Union District 1199, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Ohio Education Association. The state's nonunion work force usually gets raises and benefits -- or, presumably, concessions -- substantially the same as those in union contracts.

Gov. Ted Strickland and his cabinet were in line for pay cuts conforming with an earlier version of the contract proposal. Presumably, they'll be hit by the same reductions as in the OCSEA deal if it is ratified.

As first reported on Dispatch.com, the tentative agreement reached yesterday will not require employees to take pay cuts of up to 6 percent as the Strickland administration initially proposed to help balance the budget. Instead, employees will be required to take 10 unpaid days, or two working weeks for a typical employee. However, it appears the number of days lost could vary by seniority and would be prorated over a two-year period, sources said.

State employees work 2,080 hours annually, so the loss of 80 hours of pay would be roughly equivalent to a pay cut of slightly less than 4 percent.

In addition, "step increases" -- raises based on employees' moving up in pay grade -- would be frozen for two years, as would the accrual of personal leave and conversion to cash payments.

The agreement reportedly includes a restoration, in the final year of the three-year contract, of some or all of the benefits reduced. Employees also would have 32 "bonus" hours, plus 32 hours in additional sick time in the final year.

Andy Douglas, executive director of the union, would not comment on the tentative pact.

The Strickland administration sent shock waves through the state work force last month with a contract proposal seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in concessions, including pay cuts of up to 6 percent depending on wage level, and reducing the paid workweek to 35 hours.

The union's contract with the state was set to expire Feb. 28, but the deadline was extended to April 15.

State employees have seen ups and downs in recent contracts. Six years ago, union members reluctantly approved a contract that froze wages for two of three years. In 2006, the rank and file voted overwhelmingly to ratify an agreement with annual raises of 3 percent, 3.5 percent and 3.5 percent.

ajohnson@dispatch.com